Aeropulp

[Mister Andersen]

I think one of the driving forces behind Pulp stories was the experience of war. Morality in the genre is very clear cut compared to that seen in the 1st world war (compare and contrast this to noir & WW2). America absolutely needs to get embroiled in the conflict I think if you want Pulp sensibilities to logically affect the American populance.

Personally  I'd prefer to revise history somewhat earlier and start with a successful Boxer Rebellion. With the Dragon resurgant, the Western colonial powers (effectively in this instance including America) are going to find themselves massively wrong footed. Certainly you would open the way for a number of Chinese worlords seeking power, not to mention the knock on effects this would have to the colonies in SE Asia. Depending on how you play things, you might see a global conflict kick off before 1912, which was when the UK gained the technological edge that granted them naval dominance in Europe.

[MilitiaJim]

Hmm.  I could see a successful Boxer rebellion leading to several punitive expeditions by European powers that could see China carved up the way South America and Africa were.  Perhaps if the rebels waited until the war started in earnest in Europe?  Don't forget a neutral U.S. would still be in the Philippines, but if approached properly would probably be amenable to helping throw the Europeans out of China.